How much should I pay my sister for childcare?

minnie123

I am thinking maybe I should just stick with my first plan of paying her a fixed monthly amount then I can set up a direct debit and not think about it. I am thinking now anywhere from £100 to £150 a month. maybe I should go somewhere in the middle and say £125. That would be £1,500 a year and I worked out if she has him twice a week excluding xmas and my holidays it works out about 80 odd days. So that works out to £18.75 daily. Does that sound fair?

galvanizersbaby

minnie123 wrote: »

She doesn't get any tax credits or claim any benefits her boyfriend has a well paid job so she has no need to work. Her income from doing various bits and bobs does not reach the taxable bracket. She offered because she loves looking after him and does not work I don't think she expected any money but I want to give her some. She is not a registered childminder but she is great with him and I would not want to leave him with a stranger, I feel he si too young yet. I was thinking about £20 to £25 a day. But is that tight? I don't want to take the mickey out of her.

I think $20-$25 per day sounds fine to offer her (bear in mind that she may not accept it thpugh!)
But I think if I were in your position I would want to offer her something since you are setting up a semi permanent arrangement and this will be every week.
You are lucky - I hope your return to work goes as smoothly as poss x

minnie123

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I think $20-$25 per day sounds fine to offer her (bear in mind that she may not accept it thpugh!)
But I think if I were in your position I would want to offer her something since you are setting up a semi permanent arrangement and this will be every week.
You are lucky - I hope your return to work goes as smoothly as poss x

Thanks I know I am so lucky to have someone that loves him to death looking after him and her house in on the way to my work so it's a perfect set up. She has already been saying about how she is excited to take him swimming and to the safari park so I know she will end up spending money on him. So I am happy to pay her a reasonable amount. I will be providing the food for the moment as he is young so I make him his own special things but as he gets older she will probably provide more as he starts to eat more the same as the adults.

Saying that though I wish I could stay at home until he is about 18 months I really don't want to go back yet but I have no choice. Unless I win the lottery in the next 4 weeks

northern_star

Seems fair to me, all things considered. Its good that you have someone you can trust and that your child already knows and likes.

Susan_Frost

Minnie post 12 sounds absolutely fine. Stop worrying. I'm sure they will both enjoy the experience.

jimexbox

Remember you sister is looking after the most important thing in your life, far better your sister than a stranger.

As it happens my wife did exactly what your sister is going to do, though she has just qualified as a registered childminder. Trust me if you went to a registered childminder you have pay whether your child is sick, a retainer fee when your on holiday etc etc. So if you sister was like my wife and was flexible re. hours, it works in your favour too, so don't be tight.

As to money my wife was paid £3.50hr. If he sister was off work, on holiday or picked the baby up early she didn't get paid. Obviously no tax was paid, but it wouldn't matter as the cash wouldn't of pushed my wife over her tax allowance.

Anyone expecting a free service should wake up and smell the roses.

tiamai_d

I wouldn't pay a registered childminder £3.50 an hour! :eek: Round here it's £2.50 for a registered childminder or £28 (9am-5pm provide your own packed lunch) nursery.

Though I have to say, having used childminders and nursery, I much prefere nursery. We are lucky, DS2's nursery is amazing... and it's free for him

Only experience of family was a huge stressfull letdown, but that's my family (well DH's).

OP, the £125 a month sounds great to me, now to relax and make your offer to your SIL.

jimexbox

Childminding costs are determined by the age of the child, under 1 is more expensive.

My sister in South Bucks was quoted £5.50 for a young one. It all depends the area of the country.

feelinggood_2

I thought there was some regulation that said that you cannot be paid to look after someones child (even a relative) if you aren't registered with OFSTED? I've tried searching, but can't find what I'm looking for - anyone know what I'm talking about?

tiamai_d

feelinggood wrote: »

I thought there was some regulation that said that you cannot be paid to look after someones child (even a relative) if you aren't registered with OFSTED? I've tried searching, but can't find what I'm looking for - anyone know what I'm talking about?

No, you can't claim tax credits for a relative taking care of your child (if they are not registered). You can pay a relative to take care of your child. But if something happened you would have no rights to compensation.